Industrial Transformation Research Program
$5M is available for a University to collaborate with industry to establish a research/training hubs.
About
Through the new Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Program, the Government will invest $236 million in quality R&D partnerships that will help transform our industries so they can prosper in a richer, fairer and greener Australia.
The Industrial Transformation Research Program will:
- fund research hubs and research training centres;
- support Higher Degree by Research students and postdoctoral researchers in gaining real-world practical skills and experience through placement in industry.
The Government has also agreed that the first funding round of the $236 million Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP) will focus on food research. Food processing is a key area of opportunity as the rise of a large Asian middle class will lift demand for high-quality food products. The ITRP is designed to develop partnerships between firms and researchers to boost the competitive edge of Australian industry.
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs (ITRH)
ITRH will provide the opportunity for universities and industrial partners to focus on significant collaborative R&D projects with outcomes beyond their independent endeavours.
The Government will invest up to $1 million per year in each hub along with investment by industry partners.
Funding may be provided for between one and five years, providing the flexibility to undertake comprehensive research programs that will help tackle big industry challenges, as well as short-term projects that may help answer emerging issues or questions.
Industrial Transformation Training Centres (ITTC)
ITTC will foster close partnerships between university-based researchers and industry to provide innovative training for young researchers vital to Australia’s future industry.
The Government will invest up to $1 million per year in each centre for up to three years. Each centre will support up to ten Higher Degree by Research students and three postdoctoral researchers.
Timing
Round 1 applications close 18 December 2012.
Expert Assistance
Writing a good quality grant application is a critical element in the application process. An application needs to be well thought through, written concisely, have clear objectives and purpose, and show clear links to the objectives of the grant guidelines.
The grant application must answer all questions, provide all required information and respond to the merit criteria. It should also reflect your organisation’s business strategy.
Writing a good application takes time and effort, and requires particular writing skills.
Bulletpoint are expert grant consultants and can assist with all aspects of grant preparation.
Call us on (03) 9005 6789 or email to discuss further.
Recipients
Details of funded Industrial Transformation Research Hubs for funding in 2012
|
Research Hub Title |
Administering Organisation |
Research Hub Director |
Approved funds over project life |
| Commercial development of rock lobster culture systems: the cutting edge of aquaculture |
University of Tasmania |
A/Prof S Battaglene |
$5,000,000 |
| Dairy Innovation Hub: transformational research to underpin the future of the Australian dairy manufacturing industry |
The University of Melbourne |
Dr S Gras |
$5,000,000 |
| Pathways to market: transforming food industry futures through improved sensing, provenance and choice |
University of Tasmania |
Prof M Tamplin |
$2,500,000 |
| Unlocking the food value chain: Australian food industry transformation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets |
The University of Melbourne |
Prof F Dunshea |
$2,000,000 |
Details of funded Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2013
|
Training Centre Title |
Administering Organisation |
Training Centre Director |
Approved funds over project life |
|
Agents of change: transforming the food industry for Australia, Asia and beyond |
The University of Queensland |
Prof Melissa A Fitzgerald |
$2,695,000 |
|
A molecular technology platform for enabling the next revolution in the food industry |
Macquarie University |
Prof Paul A Haynes |
$2,100,000 |
|
Innovative Wine Production: responding to climate, water, market and economic challenges |
The University of Adelaide |
Prof Vladimir Jiranek |
$2,405,204 |
|
Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Food Manufacture |
The University of New South Wales |
A/Prof Jayashree Arcot |
$2,100,000 |
More Information
Media Release
Australia’s food, manufacturing and defence industries will work with university researchers to become more competitive in the global marketplace under the Gillard Government’s plan to secure jobs for Australians and build sustainable industries.
The food industry will be the first to benefit from the boost to productivity with eight research projects receiving more than $23 million to address challenges in storage, processing, manufacturing capabilities and product opportunities.
Climate Change, Industry and Innovation Minister Greg Combet and Science and Research Minister Craig Emerson today announced four research hubs and four training centres will be created under the first round of the Gillard Government’s Industrial Transformation Research Program.
The Ministers also announced the manufacturing, defence manufacturing and food industries would be the priorities for the second round of the Program, which will open in coming weeks.
The Program is an integral part of the Government’s Industry Innovation Precincts initiative, which supports industry-research partnerships to boost the competitiveness of Australian industries.
A total of $14.5 million will go to the successful four hub proposals, while $9.3 million will be distributed across four training centres.
“Dedicated research hubs will bring universities and industry partners together to work on small and large research and development projects,” Mr Combet said.
“By working in industry settings in the hubs, researchers see first-hand the issues facing Australia’s industries. They can then apply their creativity and research to tackle these issues.”
Training centres will foster close partnerships between university-based researchers and industry.
They will also support the next generation of researchers, with each training centre taking on at least 10 Higher Degree by Research students, and three postdoctoral researchers.
“One of Australia’s strengths in the global economy is its reputation as a clean, green food producer,” Dr Emerson said.
“High end agribusiness, particularly directed at Asia’s rapidly-expanding middle classes, is one of the areas with most potential in Australia.
“This is about making Australian industry globally competitive and profitable in the Asian Century.”
Successful first round projects include: securing the future of Australia’s dairy industry; innovative wine production; cutting edge aquaculture; and increasing Asian export opportunities.
Contributions from partner organisations toward the research hubs will total an additional $10.4 million in cash and $11 million in‑kind, with $1.3 million in cash and $4.2 million in-kind for the Training Centres.
The second round of the Program will continue to address research priorities in food storage, food processing, food manufacturing capabilities and product opportunities. It will also target product design and development, manufacturing techniques, defence manufacturing, and firm organisation and management.
These priorities in food, manufacturing and defence manufacturing match the first two Industry Innovation Precincts announced by the Gillard Government.
“As outlined in our $1 billion Plan for Australian Jobs in February, the Industrial Transformation Research Program will now exclusively fund priority research areas of the Precincts,” Mr Combet said.
